Featured Projects – UHI

University of Hawaii System

A large system with over 50,000 students and ten campuses, the University of Hawai’i had not developed new student housing in over 20 years. After studying its current offerings and needs system-wide, the University chose to focus on more detailed study and development planning at its Mãnoa, Maui Community College, and Hilo campuses, retaining Honolulu architects PBR Hawai’i and Anderson Strickler for the work.

Anderson Strickler conducted student focus groups to learn qualitatively about students’ opinions of existing housing and the need for additional housing, as well as Web-based student surveys at each campus, which provided data on student preferences regarding housing types at estimated rents as well as interest in facility improvements, and amenities. The student surveys also probed the interest in student life services, in order to enhance the University’s ability to offer housing that provided not only a place to live, but also a place to learn. The firm also conducted off-campus market analyses. Anderson Strickler then worked closely with the architect to develop program alternatives for each campus that would be financially self-supporting.

With the analysis identifying demand for 2,000 beds at Mãnoa, the team recommended the campus increase its capacity to 5,000 beds by 2015 and provided a financial implementation plan to do so. The University then retained Anderson Strickler to facilitate developer selection for the first phase of new housing, with the successful team selected in 2006 by the Board of Regents. The University opened the $71 million, 11-story Frear Hall in fall 2008, a LEED silver facility housing 810 students in one-bedroom apartments in single or double occupancy.